Langtoncouple

Kalos thank you for that. The message to us, prior to the one for assistance also mentioned the name of our other waiter who served us at the table telling us that he also is going to be employed at the new company.. I knew this already because he is a fb friend, (he has never asked for anything).

Thank you all. I am sorry to go on and on about this but its definitley NOT a scam. As I said I had been having a little fb message with him last year on general things and he casually stated that he was running out of money. I ignored this then he wondered how he was going to get money for his medical certificate. He never actually asked but hinted. Again I didnt answer him but did not mention this to my husband.

Last week he did message me saying that his contract at Thomsons had ended and he as others have left and are applying for a new contract. His is for NCL or Princess Lines.

Then this week its my husband who gets the pleas. The reason I put this on here was to find out if anyone else has experienced this before.

I do not want to mention this on the Thomsons FB page because I know Thomsons may read these comments.

He said in the previous text it was NCL or the Princess LInes.

I knew he was about to rejoin the ships and just last week I was wondering if he would again ask for money. So yes he again came back this week. NO its not a scam. My husband has now replied. I didnt think he should justify reason but this is what he says. We like the guy so dont want to be rude or horrible.

"Sorry XXX we cannot help you. I've just had to pay a big bill to fix a major problem on my car. Our only income is my pension plus a small amount that Karen earns which goes towards our holidays. Also our elder daughter has recently moved away from home and we have given her money to get set up in her new flat. With Christmas coming up we just have no spare cash. Is there no other way that you can get the money, colleagues or friends, or a crew welfare fund perhaps? Sorry."

Chat conversation end

This is not a scam. I wish I had kept the messages from last year to show you. We were just talking about general things like his family and I mentioned my holidays. He also HAS got 2 sons at college. Then he said something like "I dont know how I am going to afford to get my medical certificate. I ignored this comment, mentioned something else then in the next exchange he siad that he needed £100. At this I decided to ignore that remark and that was that. So now this happens again but to my husband. Its DEFINITELY from him. This was one who got the day before asking for the money.

Hi Sir Bruce and Mam Karen how you doing both.. Im still here in the Philippines my 7 months now.XXXX is joining NCL ship this coming month of December.. for me Im still waiting for principal interview both NCL and Princess Cruises. Hoping you both well. My warm regards to both of you. Take Care. Miss you.. Always,

Now no one knows thats what he called us. Scammers would not mention both my husband and me by our names. How would anyone know we are together. This is 100% from him . The messages last year would prove it.

Thank you. I should have said I received a similar plea from him last year but I said nothing to my husband. He was the one who got these recent messages. Last year, it was £100 to pay for a health check before returning to the ship. We have had him as our waiter on 4 cruises and to be honest he is a lovely likeable, genuine person. He has been mentioned here and on fb as being a true gentleman. But no, I didnt like this plea.

I find this hard to write and was wondering what your views are. In 2011 we got friendly with a couple of waiters (as you do) and one asked to be a facebook friend. Occasionally we comment and exchange brief messages. However I received this plea for help just yesterday.

"Hi i would like to ask you some help to pay my required USVISA and medical examination to join again the vessel..I need £250 to pay my USVISA together all other documents and a little allowance for my two sons in college.. as soon as i get onboard i will pay your money back.. whatever assistance you may give we greatly appreciate it. My warmest regards. Love and care. "

and this one arrived this morning

"this is borrowed money from you and my obligation to return it back to you, as soon as i got onboard.thru western union.

Please help me sir...."

He is hoping to take up a new contract on a new shipping line. I think we should ignore this request. I am now wondering if this is why we were asked to be a fb friend

.It is a shame but it does leave a sour taste in the mouth. Have you ever come across this before.

But surely if Thomsons got brand new ship, the cost of cruises would be so expensive. I do not mind secondhand ships, (not rust buckets) as long as we get the usual friendly staff service.

This is so nice to hear. We find the majority of passengers to be so lovely and of course the staff too. it all makes for a most enjoyable holiday.

Has Captain Torsten Ulbrich retired now?

You will find that the majority of people do dress up for Captains Night. But I have seen men in just trousers and open necked shirts and also ladies in smart trousers and a nice top. There is no rule.

Yes you have to put your case out the night before so make sure you have a change of clothes and essentials in your hand luggage. But you are then reunited with your cases outside when you are lining up for the bus the next day.

As Victor Meldrew always said "I don't BELIEVE it. Yes you do sound like him lol.

Have a super cruise Linda. Today (17th) is our 38 wedding anniversary.

You also get an little additional starter just until your ones arrives (an amuse bouche) AND a sorbet just before the main course to "cleanse your palate". I think you also get petits fours after the dessert but I may be wrong.

I really think that if someone misses the train back through their own mistake then a ship should not wait. You should not depend on getting the "last" train back. If you are doing your own thing , do try and go for an earlier train/bus in case of transport problems etc.

Look out for the Military Museum. Its hard to find but well worth the visit. Its free . We were the only visitors that day and guides are serving soldiers. Ours was very informative and eager to please. They seem pleased to have visitors.

Red Scorpion, what a great article you have written. Now I am Scottish as is my husband, both from Edinburgh but people can understand him but not always me cause I speak fast. Not all American accents can be understood too. We were in Boston last year and they spoke far too quickly for us to understand. I could understand New Yorkers so it depends again on what part of the country you come from. But I enyoyued reading your contribution. Spot on.

Often it maybe is a waiter who may have a bit of a free time in between serving who can burst into song. Some bring their own guitars and can strum up a tune at the drop of a hat. We sometimes ask for a serenade and they may oblige. I know that at the baked alaska parade, chefs and waiters often burst into song.

Linda thank you for this. It was out first trip on the Majesty over a month ago. I agree about the food. we ate in the larger MD restaurant. I just think they are cutting corners especially the synthetic cream and the butter and I agree about the veg - broccolli and green beans most of the time. i preferred the Dream food but maybe thats changed too.

I thought the entertainment team was really good. There are 2 really good males (the John Barrowman lookalike and one of the others had a great singing voice) and one of the girls stood out too. I also like the young Monty Don dancer he was fantastic in fact they all were.

I also freaked out when I saw rugs outside door but as you say its the entrance to staff only and I think they are for wiping their shoes.

I suppose passengers differ all the time and its just your luck which passengers happen to be holidaying. We found the majority so friendly - yes there were the few grumpy moaning minnies. The good thing about the majesty we though is that here are so many sitting areas and there wasn't the rush to get out for the quiz after the early Broadway show had ended. Plus there was always entertainment going on in the large lounge immediately before the show. I preferred it to the Broadway show lounge even in spite of the pillars.

Aw cause we tend to eat early and I mean be in for opening time... we tend to miss the waiters performing. I know they do it cause have passed by the MDR ;ater in the evening and heard them singing. Great fun and adds to the enjoyment.

Linda I was pleased to see the return of Africa. I first saw it on the Dream in 2011 but not since then, I wonder if they are rolling it out to all their ships. They didn;t have Les Mis on 4 weeks ago buty I enjoyed the US theme show: "Coming to America" or something like that.

Flopsy we were talking to some of the waiters on the Majesty about their work and if they knew some of the waiters on the Dream or swopped about a bit from ship to ship. We got the impression that the Majesty waiters are Indonesian. The Maitre D is from Jamaica and he gave a speech joking that "yes we do all look alike to you" Only he could get away with saying that ha ha .

We used to be given a form on the evening before the final day of the cruise. What they now do to cut down on paperwork is send you one by e mail. Oh, my goodness, we did persist but must have been at that form for about an hour. The handwritten one just asked you things about the cruise and ship - now it just goes on and on. If you give something 8 out of 10, you then will be asked why you gave it that mark much further down the pages. I doubt they will get many responses. Many will just give up halfway through.

I do recall completing a similar one online 2 years ago. I think its similar.

Oh nut today we received a thank you for this and £60 off a Winter Cruise on the Majesty. Not much incentive.

Greeting from sunny Civitavecchia :)

 

Comedian last night was Maxwell Plumm (again) Sadly same old jokes ;)

 

Beatles show tonight, followed by the crew show

 

Ship still good , but crew don't seem so happy. Lots of different nationalities.

 

Naples tomorrow, booked to go to Herculaneum.

When we were on the Majesty 3 weeks ago, some of the passengers were complaining to us about all the "Eastern Europeans" and how unfriendly they were. I am of the opinion that maybe yes, they are not as smily happy like the Filipinos but when you chat to each one then you do get smiles, laughter and build up a friendship.

Thats a shame if Thomsons did get rid of some of their antiques, paintings etc. It did give a bit of an elegance and an individuality to the Dream. They also had a baby grand in the Argo too as well as the Delo bar.

We do enjoy quality food. Did you visit the three speciality restaurants? We found them most enjoyable with a good variety of menus.

I am beginning to wonder if Thomson have two ships named Dream and we have always been lucky with being on the good one.

We found the food to be much improved when on the Dream in May 2014 than the year before. You got given a separate dish of vegetables along with the main courses in the Orion.

But I honestly felt standards were not the same when it came to catering on the Majesty last month. Cheap pats of butter, white synthetic cream, horrible bacon and coffee from the machines in the buffet. Two little mussels and a lettuce leaf for starter, one cheese croquette for starter. I think they are cost cutting. They also had dropped the salad course. We used to ask for this to be served along with our main course. The speciality restaurants were great though.